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Rating:  - Persuasion
A very good movie presentation of a Jane Austen book. Typical British casting with good character depictions. Lovely scenery. Very good representations of clothing styles and social class distinctions of the era - upper class snobbery and conniving, a put-upon underdog or rather "undergirl" has the viewer urging her to stand up for herself. Almost a "Cinderella" story line, and does have a great ending. Lovely way to spend an enjoyable indoor wintery afternoon.
Rating:  - Forget all of the other versions of Persuasion...this is the best
With interest I watched the latest production of Persuasion, broadcast on Masterpiece (anybody know what happened to the word Theatre, PBS seems to have dropped it) in January. I was very disappointed, especially by the acting.
This version of Persuasion is still the best. Amanda Root does a wonderful job of going from someone that everyone ignores (but really desperately needs), to a woman who realizes her mistake at being "persuaded" to turn Capt Wentworth down 8 years earlier, to someone who makes amends. It takes just about the entire length of the movie for Amanda to speak up, but in the end she does. Alas true love never goes away...
The cast is impressive, Amanda Root, Ciaran Hinds, Corin Redgrave, Phoebe Nicolls, Sam West, Sophie Thompson, Judy Cornwell, the late Susan Fleetwood to name a few, all fine actors and actresses.
My favorite part of the entire movie is the kiss near the end, it sums up the entire story....first hesitant, then tender, then sweet - then at last.... surrender !
Rating: - Very true-to-life and intriguing
I found this to be one of those hidden gems of a movie that people don't know about or notice. Sure, "Sense and Sensibility" was great, but this show also stands alone in greatness. Too many people compare one Jane Ausen movie to another. This film is excellent. The acting is very true-to-life and I found it to be a fantastic character study. Not everyone in the world is strikingly beautiful, and that's why this show is so realistic. I am reminded when I watch this show how important a true and noble character is - more important than good looks. Also - there are so many subtleties in the acting that make this film great. The acting and dialogue are superb. When I watch it I feel like I'm there in the time period, listening in on conversations, seeing nuances on the faces of the characters that let me know how they feel and what they must be thinking. This is a great film and it looks like many others who reviewed it agree.
Rating: - A Suitable Persuasion
PERSUASION together with NORTHANGER ABBEY were posthumous novels by Jane Austin (published 1817) and reflect the position of a novelist whose thoughts mirror her younger, wonderful bright spirit yet somehow her softer social and feminist darts she so successfully hurled at society in her other famous works. This particular film adaptation by Nick Dear of PERSUASION respects not only the spirit of the novel but also the station of the author. Under Roger Mitchell's keen direction this cinematic reenactment of the belated flowering of a Anne Elliot's eight year thwarted longing for the love of naval officer Frederick Wentworth, all due to the 'impropriety' of Wentworth's financial standings of the past, is placed before us as a quietly gentle song, one that still places the scrutinizing Austen microscope on the social mores of the time and the bows to class distinctions that serve as the matrix for Austen's novels.
The cast is excellent, with Amanda Root suitably in the background as Anne Elliot and Ciarán Hinds as the wise and slightly weathered Captain Wentworth. But their superb performances would not be as credible were it not for the large cast of fine actors playing the superficial silly sisters and cousins and the haughty ladies as well as the warm and worthy ones. This is first rate ensemble acting, allowing the quiet pulse of Austen's Anne to beat softly behind longing eyes, making her plight and ultimate reward for perseverance step stage front at the end of the film. The music of Chopin and Bach flavor the score by Jeremy Sams and the presence of Rosa Mannion, soprano, singing arias and songs lends both an aural and visual credibility to the atmosphere so ably captured by cinematographer John Daly. This is a satisfying Jane Austen adaptation. Grady Harp, January 08
Rating: - Wonderfully faithful and beautiful adaptation of a marvelous book!
If you love Jane Austen's Persuasion, you will adore this marvelous film version of the story. And if you don't know the story, this film is the perfect introduction to it! The characters are all brought to life so amazingly! Also, the visuals and settings are extremely faithful to how things would have been at that period in time, right down to the natural lighting! Amanda Root is an absolutely picture perfect Anne. Her transformation from the downtrodden, but dignified and intelligent, daughter of a foolish lord into a hopeful and luminous woman in love is astounding to behold. And Ciaran Hinds is a rugged and masculine Captain Wentworth; portraying with masterful subtlety the Captain's determined but futile attempts to deny his feelings for Anne. The supporting characters in the story are also extremely good. Some are mere caricatures, as Jane Austen intended them to be, while others are so well-rounded and multi-faceted, they will remind you of people you know in your everyday life. So, if you're a Jane Austen fan, or just a fan of good old-fashioned romance, give yourself a treat by watching this wonderful film.
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